Centre's allocation to Karnataka under MGNREGA slashed: State Rural Development Minister

Bengaluru: Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil on Friday slammed the Narendra Modi-government for "slashing the state's allocation under the MGNREGA", saying it would hit developmental work and poor people.

"The slashing of state's allocation under MNREGA will hit not only the developmental work in rural areas but also poor villagers," he said after a meeting of Chief Executive officers of Zilla Panchayats here.

Patil flayed the central government for meting out "step-motherly" treatment to the state.

He said the Centre released full amount of Rs 4,210 crore at one go under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to Andhra Pradesh but slashed Karnataka's allocation by Rs 1,200 crore.

Patil said he would be meeting Union Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh between January 3 and 4 in New Delhi and request him to increase the allocations for the state under the scheme.

He also said he would attend the RDPR Ministers' national conclave in Thiruvananthpuram on January 6 where he would once again press for increase in MNREGA allocations for the state.

Patil said "in a federal set up the government at the Centre cannot discriminate between the states or slash the release of funds to the state governments."

The Minister said the RDPR department has constructed 5.10 lakh toilets as against the target of six lakh set for this year.

"I am confident we shall achieve the target by March end of the financial year," he said.

For next year, the department has set a target of constructing 10 lakh toilets, Patil added.

By 2018, the government is determined to build toilets in all the houses in the state.

"By 2018 state will be freed of open defecation menace," he said.

Patil said there is no proposal before government to postpone the panchayat elections to be held in May.

"Elections to GPs will be held as per schedule – there's lot of time left to prepare. Six months are left," he said.